Users Now Can Find and Connect with Black-Operated Businesses Via Innovative Mobile Application
In the heart of St. Louis, two entrepreneurs, Sean Armstrong and Duane Johnson, have launched a groundbreaking mobile app called Tuloko. The app was unveiled during the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, a significant milestone in African American history.
The name and concept of Tuloko are inspired by the thriving black community of Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as America's "Black Wall Street" in the 1910s. The app aims to revitalise the economic landscape for African Americans, using technology as a powerful tool for change.
Tuloko is now available for download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, making it easily accessible to users across the nation. Atlanta-based business development specialist, Joel Dixon, has invested in Tuloko, expressing his belief that the app will play a pivotal role in economically uplifting African Americans.
As of 2023, specific details about Tuloko's current growth and impact are not widely published. However, it's important to consider the success of similar platforms, such as WeBuyBlack and Black Nation, which have gained popularity by connecting black-owned businesses with customers and promoting their products.
These platforms often experience growth during periods of increased awareness about racial equity and economic empowerment. The growth of such platforms is driven by factors such as increased consumer interest in supporting diverse businesses, social media campaigns, and partnerships with organisations focused on economic equity.
Despite the challenges faced by these platforms, such as maintaining user engagement, expanding business listings, and competing with larger, more established review platforms like Yelp, Tuloko's unique approach and commitment to the cause could set it apart.
Tuloko provides users with a platform to search, add, and support black-owned businesses, as well as culturally tailored events and news. The app also features a chat messenger service, making it easier for users to connect and engage with the businesses they support.
Armstrong, the co-founder of Tuloko, was inspired to create the app due to his background in business technology and experiences growing up in Detroit, Michigan. He and Johnson have faced hurdles in capital acquisition for product development as a startup but have managed to secure multiple awards, including the runner-up position in the Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Competition, the CURA Tech Grant, and the title of Mosaic/Social Venture Partners Social Entrepreneur of the Year.
Tuloko has also been featured on CNN's Black in America series, further increasing its visibility and potential for success. As Dixon rightly notes, consumers are a crucial part of the process, helping to crowdsource black-owned businesses onto the Tuloko app.
In a time when conversations about racial equity and economic empowerment are at the forefront, Tuloko provides a solution, not just a discussion. The app is on track to become the preeminent resource in the U.S. for finding, adding, and supporting black-owned businesses within the next few years. With its real-time accessibility and commitment to the community, Tuloko is poised to make a significant impact in the lives of African Americans and the businesses they support.
- The technology-driven mobile app, Tuloko, launched by entrepreneurs Sean Armstrong and Duane Johnson, has been made available for download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, making it easily accessible for users across the nation.
- Atlanta-based business development specialist, Joel Dixon, has invested in Tuloko, expressing his belief that the app will play a pivotal role in economically uplifting African Americans, similar to how platforms like WeBuyBlack and Black Nation have gained popularity.
- Tuloko provides users with a platform to search, add, and support black-owned businesses, as well as culturally tailored events and news, setting it apart from other review platforms like Yelp.
- The growth of Tuloko, and platforms like it, is driven by factors such as increased consumer interest in supporting diverse businesses, social media campaigns, and partnerships with organizations focused on economic equity.
- In a time when conversations about racial equity and economic empowerment are at the forefront, Tuloko is poised to become the preeminent resource in the U.S. for finding, adding, and supporting black-owned businesses, making a significant impact in the lives of African Americans and the businesses they support.
